Review: Fjieri – Words Are All We Have (Reloaded)

Style: Progressive Rock, Neo-prog (clean vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Steven Wilson, Riverside, Eno
Review by: Dave
Country: Italy
Release date: 14 February 2024

It’s a dreary, rainy, unseasonably warm day in late January. I’m sitting on my porch, watching the wind shake drops from a barren persimmon tree into an overflowing bird bath underneath, rippling the smooth surface. Cars are passing by, their sound amplified by the wet road, and in response, I reach to turn up my speakers to better hear Fjieri’s Words Are All We Have (Reloaded). Rainy weather is perfect for mood pieces, and Words Reloaded unabashedly presents itself as a mood piece designed for days like these.

Inspired by the quieter and moodier moments of progressive rock legends Porcupine Tree and Riverside, Fjieri’s remaster of their 2015 output Words Are All We Have presents an evolution in their sound design and a slightly reworked track order. This rework is a welcome change as the ennui that Fjieri’s music inspires is in full force, brought out by a thicker bass sound, a fuller vocal presence, and an overall roomier production. Moreover, Words Reloaded introduces a brand-new opener, “A Sense of Lost,” which does a remarkable job of setting the mood, allowing me to enjoy the feeling of listlessness like few other albums before it.

It could be argued, though, that Words Reloaded does too good a job at this. Being a mood piece, there is less emphasis on ideas and more emphasis on atmosphere and texture, and the blissful lethargy of the first few tracks dissipates fairly quickly: by the end of “Flame,” I’ve processed my feelings fully and I’m ready to move on to the next thing. Words Reloaded, however, is absolutely not ready, keeping me strapped in for seven more tracks. The slump caused by the monotony in the middle tracks does serious damage to Words Reloaded’s ability to evoke mood, and I end up feeling more bored than entrenched in atmosphere.

Fortunately, the album manages to pick itself up by the end by including a few tracks that break from the mood to explore different intensities and speeds. “Oriental Dream” introduces a much-needed increase in pace and rhythmic complexity; “Zombie Love” opens with a mysterious guitar motif and breathy vocal melodies, finishing with a bit of heft through chunky guitars over a squealing synthesizer; and “Those Words (Words Are All We Have)” returns to the dejection of the beginning, but includes a passionate vocal delivery that ultimately ends the album on a positive note. The variation in these final tracks saves this showcase in mood from completely falling flat on its face.

Words Reloaded has great promise, improving on the original considerably and developing an intoxicatingly depressing mood in its first moments, but ultimately ends up running a little too long and losing its magic. Were this a more concise length, I would wholeheartedly recommend it, but the moody atmosphere overstays its welcome and leaves me longing for something with a bit more energy. If you’re looking to get wowed by pyrotechnics or bask in warm inviting sunlight, this is not the album for you. If you’re looking for something to accompany your tea while you look out the window on a rainy day, Words Reloaded is an excellent choice.

Recommended tracks: A Sense of Lost, Oriental Dream, Zombie Love
You may also like: Disperse, Our Oceans, Rain Tree Crow
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Spotify | Facebook | RYM page

Label: Independent Release

Fjieri is:
– Stefano Panunzi (keyboards)
– Nicola Lori (guitar)
– Elio Lori (bass)
– Angelo Strizzi (drums)